Canberra is the capital of Australia. It is a modern and lively city with a population of over 345.000. 
                                                                     History
     Canberra is the eighth largest city in Australia. It is 238 km from Sydney and 507 km from Melbourne
was once the capital of Austualia. Sydney people also wished to make their city the capital. It was difficult
for the government to make the decision. Then in 1911, the government chose a place to build the new
capital. It was between Sydney and Melbourne, the two largest cities. In 1927, the city was set up. It became
the capital and was named Canberra. "Canberra" means "a place for friends to get together."
                                                                      Cuture
     Canberra is a beautiful city with trees and flowers everywhere. There's a Flower Festival in September
each year. People can enjoy all kinds of beautiful flowers and welcome the spring to arrive. A man-made
like-lake. Bertey Griffin is in the center of the city. It's about 25 km long. People like to ride bikes, walk or
run around the lake. In Canberra, there're many famous universities like the Australian National University
and the University of Canberra. The National Library and the National Meseum of Australia are also famous
places that people like to visit.

1. How far is Canberra from Sydney?

A. 25km
B. 238km
C. 345 km
D. 507 km

2. The word "Canberra"means _____.

A. the largest city
B. a beautiful man-made lake
C. the old capital city
D. a place for friends to get together

3. Canberra Flower Festival is a festival _____.

A. ride lakes
B. visit Universities
C. welcome the spring
D. walk around the lake

     The word "sport" first meant something that people did in their free time. Later it often meant hunting
(捕獵) wild animals and birds.
     About a hundred years ago the word was first used for organized games. This is the usual meaning of the
word today. People spend a lot of their spare time playing football, basketball, tennis and many other sports.
Such people play because they want to. A few people are paid for the sport they play. These people are called
professional sportsmen. They may be sportsmen for only a few years, but during that time the best one can
earn a lot of money.
     For example, a professional footballer in England earns more than ＄3000 a year. The starts earn a lot
more. International golf and tennis champions (網(wǎng)球錦標賽) can make more than ＄50000 in a year. Of
course, only a few sportsmen can earn as much money as that. It is only possible in sports for individuals
(個人的) like golf, tennis and motor-racing. Perhaps the most surprising thing about sportsmen and money
is that: the star can earn more money from advertising than from sport. An advertising for sports equipment
(設備) does not simply say "Buy our thing". It says "Buy the same shirt and shoes as …". Famous sportsmen
can even advertise things like watches and food. They allow the companies to use their name or a photo of
them and they are paid for this. Sport is no longer just something for people's spare time.

(     )1. A "professional" sportsman is someone who likes sports very much.    
(     )2. The word "sport" now usually means "organized" games.               
(     )3. An advertisement for sports equipment just says "Buy our thing".     
(     )4. The sport stars can earn as much money from advertising as from sport.
(     )5. This passage mainly talks about sport and money.                     

     Is it a tree? Is it a bear? If you're looking at a tree in the shape of a bear, it's a topiary (林木雕塑). A topiary
is a tree or a bush (灌木) that is trained into a shape. Growing a topiary garden takes both time and skills.
     A topiary gardener should make a drawing first. The drawing shows the final shape that the gardener likes.
The gardener then chooses a bush for the topiary. It may be one that just planted or one that is already in place.
     In June of the plant's first year, the gardener looks for new leaves. When the leaves grow, it's time to shape
(給……造型) the bottom of the bush. It needs about five years. The top is not trimmed during this time. In the
fifth year, the bush grows tall enough for shaping. Then the gardener begins to shape the whole bush.
     Once a topiary has been started, it needs care all year. In the summer it must be cut many times to keep its
shape. This cutting also helps the bush grow. In the winter the bushes don't grow. The gardeners have to brush
snow of the plants, or snow may hurt some parts of them.
     Topiary gardening is very old art. The Romans did it in the first Century. In the sixteenth century, people in
Europe like topiaries too. By the late 1600s, topiaries were also grown in America. Today it's popular in many
parts of the world.

1. Put the following in the right order according to the passage.     
    a. The gardener chooses a bush for the topiary.     
    b. The whole bush grows tall enough for shaping.     
    c. The gardener begins to shape the bottom of the bush.     
    d. The gardener draws the shape of a topiary. 

A. d---a--- b---c              
B. b---c---a---d   
C. a---d---c---b               
D. d---a---c---b

2. What does the underlined word “trimmed” in the third paragraph mean?   

A. Shaken.      
B. Cut     
C. Cleaned     
D. Collected

3. In which part of the world did the topiary gardening begin first? 

A. In Rome.   
B. In Europe.     
C. In America.   
D. In Africa.

     The idea of Mother's Day is a very old idea. It was started by the ancient Egyptians (埃及人), who
celebrated (慶祝) a day to honour (向……表示敬意) Isis, the mother of the pharaohs. The early Christians
(基督教徒) celebrated a day to honour Mary, the mother of Jesus.
     Later, English Christians celebrated to honour all mothers. This English holiday was called "Mothering
Sunday".When the English came to America, they did not have time for Mothering Sunday, so the holiday
was not celebrated in America. In 1914, the U.S passed a law which designated (規(guī)定) the second Sunday
in May as Mother's Day to honour the mothers who had lost sons in war.
     Today, Mother's Day is celebrated in many other countries for all mothers. In Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, Mother's Day is celebrated on the same day as in the United States-the second Sunday in May.
Children give their mothers cards, gifts, and flowers. Schools plan Mother's Day's special activities.
     In China, the holiday is celebrated to show the respect (尊重) the Chinese have for the old people, and
the love they have for their parents. Ten top mothers are chosen by the government. People all over the
country try different ways to help mothers who are poor.

                                                        1____________

     Want to say "hello" from Disneyland? Send a post card!
     Beautiful scenes of paradise (樂園), wild animals, silly pictures-you can find them all in one place. Where?
On a post card! Have people always sent post cards? No. Before post cards, people liked sealed letters.
     The idea for the first decorated (裝飾) post card came to John P. Charlton in 1861. He thought a simple
card with decorations would be a great way to send a note. Then in the late 1800s, post cards with pictures
appeared. By law, people had to write their note on the front-on the picture! The back was only for the address.
Several years later, England allowed a divided-back post card. Then people could write their note on the back
left side and put the address on the right. During the early 1900s, the golden age of post cards, picture post
cards became a craze of the world. In 1908, Americans alone mailed over 677 million post cards. Today, post
cards are the third most popular collection in the world after stamps and coins.

(     )1. We can see some silly pictures on the post cards.
(     )2. Post cards were produced before sealed letters.
(     )3. In 1861, the first decorated post card appeared.
(     )4. Post cards were most popular during the early 1900s.
(     )5. Stamps, coins and post cards are the most popular collections in the world.

     Cats are the most popular pets among Americans. So it is not surprising that there are a lot of expressions
about cats. Some cats like to catch small birds, like canaries (金絲雀). If someone looks very proud and
satisfied with himself, we say "he looks like the cat that ate the canary."
     Sometimes, a cat likes to play with a small animal it catches. So if you "play cat and mouse" with someone,
it means that you change between different kinds of behavior when dealing with another person. For example,
a girl might offer something sweet to her little brother and then take it away when he reaches for it.
     Americans might say that something is "the cat's miaow" or "the cat's pajamas (睡衣)" to describe something
that is the best or finest. "A copycat" is someone who acts just like someone else or copies another person's
work. "A fat cat" is a person with a lot of money.
     If you tell about something that is supposed to be a secret, we say you "let the cat out of the bag". If you
are not able to speak or answer a question, someone might ask you if "the cat has got your tongue (舌頭)."
     Have you ever watched children in a classroom when their teacher leaves for a few minutes? "When the
cat's away, the mice will play" means people sometimes act badly when there is no supervision (監(jiān)管).
     You may have heard the expression "curiosity killed the cat". This means caring too much about things that
are not your business might cause problems.
     If you have ever had cats as pets, you know it is difficult to train them or to get them to do something. Cats
are not like Sheep or cows that can be moved in a group. So we say a difficult or impossible job is like "herding
(放牧) cats"

1. What can we learn from the passage?

A. The expression "a fat cat" is used to describe someone who is very fat.
B. The expression "play cat and mouse" usually means "play tricks on others".
C. It is more difficult to keep sheep or cows than cats.
D. There are more expressions about cats than those about dogs.

2. In which of the following situations do we most probably use the expression "curiosity killed the cat"?

A. Someone always asked a lady her age or weight and it made her angry.
B. Someone promised to keep a secret but he failed to do so.
C. Someone won the first prize in an English singing competition and he felt very excited.
D. Someone tried to swim across the Yangtze River with his newly broken legs.

3. Where can you most probably find the passage?

A. In a scientific research paper about cats.
B. On a website telling people how to keep cats.
C. In a magazine telling various jokes and funny stories.
D. In a language book that teaches students how to use American slang.

     Have successful people ever felt sad? Do they have any "secrets" to success? The answers to
these questions can be found in US president Barack Obama's "back to school" speech. Here is
an excerpt (摘錄) from his speech.
     I know that sometimes, you get the sense that you can be rich and successful without any hard work-
that your ticket to success is through rapping (饒舌音樂) or basketball or being a TV star, when chances
are, you're not going to be any of those things.
     But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject you study. Not all the homework
will seem completely important to your life right this minute. And you may not succeed at everything the first
time you try.
     That's OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures.
JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book was turned down 12 times before it finally came out. Michael Jordan
was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots
(投籃) during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is
why I succeed."
     These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures beat you-you have to let
them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time.
     No one's born being good at things. You become good at things through hard work.
     Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day.
Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit (承
認) when you don't know something, and to learn something new.
     And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged (泄氣), and you feel like other people
have given up on you-don't ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on
your country.

1. Why does Barack Obama mention (提到) JK Rowling and Michael Jordan in the fourth paragraph?

A. To compare these two famous persons.
B. To explain that writing and sports are difficult skills.
C. To show that the two persons were treated unfairly.
D. To prove that failure is the mother of success.

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. No one can be successful without working hard.
B. Failure can be good if you treat it in a right way.
C. Those who believe in themselves shouldn't ask others for help.
D. One should try his best to make his dream come true.

3. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined sentence?

A. One should change his mind when others give honest advice to him.
B. One should believe in himself no matter what difficulty he is faced with.
C. One doesn't have to work hard when he has failed several times.
D. One doesn't have to take others' advice when they get away from him.

     Birthdays are celebrated (慶祝) all over the world. Some ways to celebrate birthdays are rather similar
from county to country: candles, cakes, and birthday wishes. But there are also different ways to celebrate
birthdays. Here are a few:
     

1. When someone is having a birthday in Denmark, you can see _____ outside the window.

A. flowers
B. presents
C. a flag
D. a chair

2. In _____ flowers are put on the chair of the birthday child.

A. Japan
B. Denmark
C. India
D. Holland

3. In _____, only birthday children wear colored clothes to school.

A. India 
B. Holland
C. Denmark
D. Japan

4. In Japan, the birthday is more important for boys when they are _____.

A. 15
B. 7
C. 5
D. 3

5. The passage is mainly about _____.

A. similar ways of celebrating birthdays in some countries
B. different ways of celebrating birthdays in some countries
C. children's birthdays in western countries
D. the importance of children's birthdays